When is the right time to invest in Mutual Fund?

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

There is no fixed time for doing certain things. This applies to all important affairs and investment being the spine of a financially stable life, holds a special importance. In the current scenario, the multi faceted mutual funds, due to their tax-free and growing nature, are becoming a popular choice among the masses. But there are people who restrain themselves waiting for the right time. So, when is the right time to invest in mutual fund?

If planning to achieve long term financial goals, it is believed to enter the markets when it is not doing well rather than entering when it is doing very well. Seeking the conventional wisdom, the best time to start the mutual fund investment is when the market is low and sell when it’s high. The money is made by staying in the market and compounding. The difference lies in, when to start and withdraw the funds.

Here is the table showing returns generated by both, the set of investors who invest when the market was low and when the market was high :

Entered during market Low

Entered during market High

Date of Investment

4-Dec-96

14-Jun-06

13-Dec-00

7-Mar-00

Return in the 1st year of Investment

28.49%

59.07%

-20.92%

-27.60%

Returns till end of July 2015

13.27%

13.39%

13.75%

11.05%

Source of Index values: www.bseindia.com

When is the right time to enter mutual funds?

For the people pooling the money in equities, PE scale serves as a parameter to judge how pricey the markets are at a given point of time. The standard time to invest in equity mutual fund is when P/E (price/earning) ratio falls below a certain threshold.

When is the right time to redeem?

The ideal time to redeem is when the objective is achieved. Withdrawing the money when the market is not performing will not be a perfect choice. The results have shown that the investors who have withdrawn at the highs of the market have got better returns. Also, there are the other reasons that may support the decision of redemption and they are as follows:

The fund you have invested in continues to underperform over a stretch

The investment objective has changed

The existing fund manager changes the fund house

The goal is accomplished

As it’s not the timing but time in the market that matters, the investment can be started focusing on the financial goals and assessing own risk appetite. The investor needs proper asset allocation to manage the volatility of the market.

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